King’s College Hospital Welcomes First Visually Impaired NHS Volunteer 2026 | Denmark Hill

Key Points

• Edesiri Eyeregba, a 24-year-old from Streatham, South London, has become King’s College Hospital’s first visually impaired volunteer
• Edesiri has both vision and hearing impairment and reports being regularly rejected for jobs due to his disability
• He was surprised to be offered the volunteering role after an interview where he received several adjustments including PowerPoint materials
• Volunteer Services Recruitment and Training Coordinator Christian Rafael said Edesiri performed “exceptionally well” at interview
• The Trust installed NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) screen reader software so Edesiri could access emails
• Edesiri uses his own braille keyboard to respond and input data into documents
• He currently works in an admin role at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), updating the volunteer database
• Child Specialist Teaching Assistant Ify Hague from Royal Society of Blind Children (RSBC) supports Edesiri daily
• Edesiri recently doubled his hours and plans to seek full-time employment after leaving college later this year
• King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a registered Disability Confident Employer committed to inclusive recruitment
• The volunteering placement takes place during Volunteers Week (1 June to 7 June 2026)
• Gavin Dean, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion lead at King’s, emphasised the Trust’s commitment to making adjustments for staff and volunteers

Streatham (South London News) June 6, 2026, has become the first volunteer with a vision impairment at King’s College Hospital. As reported by the Trust’s communications team, Edesiri, who has both vision and hearing impairment, applied for the volunteer role “as a way of building experience and improving his employment prospects when leaving college later this year”.

Why does Edesiri Eyeregba say he gets rejected for jobs because of his visual impairment?

Edesiri shared his personal experience directly with King’s College Hospital. As quoted in the Trust’s official statement, Edesiri said:

“I usually get rejected, so I was really surprised when I was offered a volunteering role at the interview”.

This statement reveals the ongoing employment discrimination he faces despite his qualifications and capabilities.

Christian Rafael, Volunteer Services Recruitment and Training Coordinator at King’s College Hospital, provided context about the interview process. According to Rafael’s statement reported by King’s College Hospital,

“Edesiri performed exceptionally well at interview, and we were in no doubt that he was full of potential. Having a visual impairment shouldn’t hold anyone back from volunteering, and we were keen to see how we could help”.

What adjustments did King’s College Hospital provide for Edesiri’s interview and work role?

The hospital implemented several accessibility measures to support Edesiri. As reported by King’s College Hospital, Edesiri

“was offered several adjustments before his interview, including a copy of a PowerPoint presentation, so that he was able to prepare”.

For his work role, the Trust installed specific technology. According to the official announcement, “The Trust installed screen reader software called NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) onto a computer, so that Edesiri could access emails. He uses his own braille keyboard to be able to respond and input data into documents”.

What is Edesiri’s current role at Princess Royal University Hospital and how does he contribute?

Edesiri works in an administrative capacity at a different hospital within the Trust. As detailed by King’s College Hospital,

“He currently works in an office at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) in an admin role. He is responsible for updating the volunteer database, to document when volunteers are unable to complete their shifts”.

Edesiri commented on his workplace experience. According to his statement in the Trust’s announcement,

“The team here are really helpful. If you have any difficulties with understanding anything, then just talk to someone. Just go for it!”.

How has the hiring process helped the Trust understand adjustments for visually impaired workers?

The placement has provided valuable insights for the organization. As reported by King’s College Hospital,

“The process of hiring Edesiri has helped the Trust to understand what adjustments are required for someone who is visually impaired to work in an administration role”.

Edesiri receives specialized assistance from an external organization. According to King’s College Hospital’s announcement,

“Day-to-day Edesiri is supported in his role by Ify Hague, a Specialist Teaching Assistant from the Royal Society of Blind Children (RSBC). She’s been helping him to navigate his surroundings and establish what he’s expected to do”.

Ify Hague provided feedback about Edesiri’s progress. As quoted by King’s College Hospital, Ify said:

“It took us awhile to get used to the systems, but now I just sit in the background. He’s so quick. He now wants to encourage more people to apply. If he can do it – anyone can”.

What is Edesiri’s future employment plan after leaving college?

Edesiri has clear ambitions for his career. As reported by King’s College Hospital,

“South London born Edesiri recently doubled his hours and will soon be looking for a full-time job. Until then he hopes to continue to build on his experience at the hospital”.

How does King’s College Hospital demonstrate its commitment to inclusive recruitment?

The Trust has established formal commitments to accessibility. According to the official announcement,

“King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a registered Disability Confident Employer, actively committed to inclusive recruitment, workplace accessibility, and supporting staff with disabilities or long-term health conditions”.

Key leaders at the Trust emphasized their organizational values. Gavin Dean, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion lead at King’s, stated according to King’s College Hospital:

“As an organisation we are committed to making adjustments for our staff and volunteers. It is important for the Trust to provide those opportunities for disabled people to feel supported and to gain experience in the workplace”.

Amber Yusuph, Volunteer Service Manager at King’s, provided additional leadership perspective. As reported by King’s College Hospital, Amber said:

“It’s important that our volunteers come from all walks of life, so that we represent the communities we serve. It’s a pleasure to have Edesiri working at the hospital, he is an inspiration to us all”.

When was this volunteer placement announced and what event does it celebrate?

The announcement was made during a specific national campaign. According to King’s College Hospital’s announcement dated June 2, 2026,

“To celebrate Volunteers Week, taking place between 1 June to 7 June, we’re highlighting the importance of inclusivity across King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust”.

Background of the Development

This development represents a significant milestone in NHS accessibility and inclusive volunteering practices. King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which operates King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill as well as hospitals in Orpington and Sidcup, has actively worked to create opportunities for disabled people.

The Trust’s establishment of this volunteer role for Edesiri Eyeregba aligns with their registered Disability Confident Employer status, demonstrating concrete action toward workplace accessibility.

The development occurred during Volunteers Week (1-7 June 2026), a national campaign recognizing volunteer contributions across the UK. The Trust’s implementation of NVDA screen reader software and provision of braille keyboard access represents specific technological adjustments that enable visually impaired individuals to work in administrative roles.

The partnership with Royal Society of Blind Children (RSBC) provides specialized support through Specialist Teaching Assistants like Ify Hague, creating a comprehensive support system.

Edesiri’s journey from Streatham, South London, through job rejection to becoming the Trust’s first visually impaired volunteer, highlights the employment barriers faced by people with visual and hearing impairments in the UK.

His current administrative role at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), where he updates the volunteer database, demonstrates that visually impaired individuals can successfully perform office-based work with appropriate technological accommodations.

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Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Visually Impaired People Seeking Employment in South London

This development can significantly affect visually impaired people seeking employment in South London by demonstrating concrete pathways to gaining work experience.

For the particular audience of visually impaired and disabled job seekers in South London boroughs, Edesiri’s success shows that volunteering at NHS facilities can build employability credentials when paid employment is difficult to secure due to discrimination.

Visually impaired individuals across South London may now have increased awareness that King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust actively recruits disabled volunteers with specific technological accommodations.

The Trust’s installation of NVDA software and provision of braille keyboard access demonstrates that administrative roles can be accessible, potentially encouraging more disabled people to apply for volunteering positions as a stepping stone to paid employment.

The development affects the particular audience by providing a real example that job rejection due to visual impairment can be overcome through volunteering. Edesiri’s statement that “If he can do it – anyone can,” as reported by King’s College Hospital, may motivate other visually impaired people in South London to pursue similar opportunities rather than accepting employment barriers as permanent.

For disabled job seekers in South London, this development indicates that the Trust’s commitment to inclusive recruitment extends beyond policy into practice.

The recent doubling of Edesiri’s hours suggests volunteer roles can expand into more substantial commitments, potentially leading to full-time employment opportunities as Edesiri plans to seek.

The partnership with Royal Society of Blind Children provides additional support infrastructure that visually impaired people in South London can access. This means the particular audience gains not just a volunteer opportunity but a comprehensive support system including specialized teaching assistance for navigating workplace environments.